Device for sealing cylindrical cans or similar containers



June 4, 1946. s. K. CHARLES DEVICE FOR SEALING CYLINDRICAL CANS OR SIMILKR CONTAINERS 2 Sheec's-Shegt 1 v Filed April 3, 1945 June 4-, 1946. G. K. CHARLES 0 1 DEVICE FOR SEALING CYLINDRIQAL CANS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS Fii ed'Ajaril s; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented June 4, 1946 DEVICE FOR SEALING CYLINDRICAL CANS OR SIIVIILAR CONTAINERS George Kenneth Charles, Wincanton, Somerset,

England Application April 3, 1945, Serial No. 586,365 In Great Britain January 11, 1944 Claims.

In a device for sealing cylindrical cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body, according to the invention, the tape is held on a guide adjacent to a track in front of a pressure roller so that as a can, rolled by suitable means along the track, engages with the tape and presses it against the roller the adhesion of the tape to the can is started. The roller is so mounted that it can yield, to allow the can to travel, while maintaining pressure to effect th initial adhesion of the tape to the can. A second pressure roller is mounted adjacent to the track so that, as the can passes from the first roller, the second roller engages with the tape on the can and completes the adhesion, the second roller yielding, as the can rolls, and maintaining pressure on the tape.

When the can has rolled forward sufficiently to cause the tape to encircle it, the guide is moved with it so that the tape, stretched between its end and the can, is brought against a'knife, preferably serrated, and the tape is cut, a short piece being left projecting from the end of the guide. The guide is preferably pivotally mounted and provided with a return spring.

As the can continues to roll forward, the sec- 0nd pressure roller completes the sealing of the free end of the tape on the can. The guide swings back with its projecting portion of tape ready to be pressed by the next can against the first pressure roller.

The second roller is preferably mounted on a lever provided with a return spring, so that when the sealed can passes on along the track, the second roller is returned to its initial position, ready for the next can.

A roll of tape on a spool is preferably mounted on a spindle, so that it can be drawn oi as the guide swings from its initial position to the knife, a sprin pad or the like being provided to check the spool and to keep the tape in tension until it is cut. On the return of the guide, a slack loop forms on the guide; this ensures that the tape is pressed against a can befor it is tensioned.

One form of the device according to the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which- Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side and end elevation, and

Figure 3 is a plan.

In the device illustrated by Figures 1 to 3, a framework 1 supports a can track comprising two bars 2 of angle section. The bars 2 are carried by cross bars 3 capable of being raised and lowered on pins 4 which pass freely through holes 2 in the cross bars but are screw-threaded fornuts 5, 6, so that the height of the'track can be adjusted to suit the size of can to be sealed.

An endless conveyor belt I is supported on pulleys 8, the shaft 9 of one of which is driven by any suitable means.

A tape guide arm Ill has lugs ll pivotally mounted on a pin 12 which is supported on an upright I 3 and also has a guide wheel l4 freely mounted on it. A coiled spring I5 is attachedto one of the lugs H and to an adjusting screw 16, which is carried by a, bracket I! on the upright 13.

A tape spool 32' is mounted to rotate on a pin 18 carried by an upright l 9. Acollar or'pressure pad 20 is freely mounted on the pin Hand is held against the spool by a coiled spring 2| abutting against a nut 22 onthe pin la, the pressure being adjusted by a milled'nut 23 on the opposite end of the pin,

Tape 32 from the spool 32 is first drawn over the guide wheel 14, down the guide Ill so that a short piece extends below the end of the guide. A rubber pressure roller 24 is free to rotate on a pin 25 carried by one arm of a bell-crank lever 25 having a spring 21 attached to the other arm and adjustable by a screw 28. The spring holds the roller 24 initially over the track and behind the lower end of the tape guid In.

A second rubber pressure roller 29 is freely mounted on a lever 36 which is pivoted at 31 on the bracket ll fixed on the upright l3. It has a spring 33, adjustable by a screw 34, which initially holds the lever with the pressure roller 29' over the track behind the first pressure roller 24.

A serrated knife 35 is carried by a screwthreaded rod 35, held in a head 31 by nuts 38, which enable the position of the knife to be adjusted.

Cans to be sealed are fed down a chute 39, the foremost can being arrested by a lever 40 which is pivoted in a bracket 4| and normally abuts against a stop 42.

The lever 40 is rocked as required to release the cans one at a time. A can rolling onto the track is compelled to roll thereon by the conveyor belt I as indicated at 43, Figure 1. It comes into contact with the adhesive surfac of the tape dependin from the guide In and, as it continues to roll, it traps the tape against the spring loaded pressure roller 24 which ensures that the adhesive tape obtains a firm hold on the can. This pressure is maintained through approximately one quarter revolution of the can. The roller 24 yields against the action of the spring 2'! and allows the can to pass on, after which the roller 24 is returned by the spring to its initial position.

Before the can leaves the first pressure roller 24, it comes up to the second pressure roller or sealing roller 29 which swings on its lever 30 but continues to press the tape into the joint between the can body and lid. The can having passed the roller 29 the latter, being spring loaded, flies back to its original position. During this time,

the pull of the tape has been causing the lower end of the tape guide It! to describe an arc in the same direction as the can is travelling.

One revolution of the can from the point where it first meets the tape, that is suflicient travel to cause the tape approximately to encircle the can, brings the exposed portion of the tape, between the ends of the guide It! and the can, into contact with the serrated knife 35 which severs the tape.

The tape guide arm then swings back to its initial position, under the influence of the spring l5, carrying the projecting portion of tape back ready for the next can. The second pressure roller 29 continues to press on the can until the cut end of tape has been pressed into place. It is then returned to its initial position by its spring 33. As the tape guide It) returns to its starting position, a slack loop of tape forms over the guide wheel I4. This ensures that the tape has a short start before coming under tension.

I claim:

1. A machine for sealing cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body of the can, comprising a track, means for rolling cans along the track, a pressure roller initially situated over the track, a tape guide for holding adhesive tape over the track in front of the pressure roller for engagement with an advancing can rolled along the track, means for supporting said guide and means for supporting said pressure roller, each of said supporting means including yielding means for the purpose of allowing an advancing can to press the tape on the guide against the pressure roller to start adhesion and to allow the can to continue its advance, a second pressure roller being provided behind the first pressure roller to engage with the tape on the can and to complete the adhesion thereof, said second pressure roller also having a support including resilient means to enable it'to yield and allow the can to pass it after encirclement with tape.

2. A machine for sealing cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body of the can, comprising a track, means for rolling cans along the track, two pressure rollers spaced apart one behind the other 4 and initially situated over the track, a pivoted tape guide for holding adhesive tape in front of the first pressure roller, levers for supporting the pressure rollers, each lever having a return spring, whereby a can advancing along the track first engages with the tape, then presses it against the first pressure roller to start adhesion and then, as it becomes encircled by tape, presses it against the second pressure roller, the pressure rollers yielding to the passage of the can and being returned by the return springs to their initial positions as the can passes them.

3. A machine for sealing cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body of the can as claimed in claim 2, having a knife for severing the tape after a can has advanced sufliciently along the track to be approximately encircled by tape and the tensioned tape comes into contact with the knife.

4. A machine for sealing cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body of the can, comprising a track, a conveyor belt for rolling cans along the track, a hand lever for arresting cans at the entrance of the track and for admitting them to the track one at a time, a tape spool, means for supporting said spool, means for retarding the rotation of said spool for tensioning the tape drawn off thereof, a pivoted guide for holding the free end of the tape from'the spool over the track, a pressure roller, means for yieldingly holding said pressure roller behind the tape guide, a second pressure roller, means for yieldingly holding said second pressure roller in spaced relation to and behind said first pressure roller, and a knife situated above the track and in spaced relation to and behind thesecond pressure roller, whereby a can rolled along the track engages with the tape on the guide, presses it against the first pressure roller to start adhesion of the tape with the can and then presses the tape encircling the can against the second pressure roller, the tape guide, under the influence of the tensioned tape, being swung to allow the tape to engage with the knife to sever the tape, the second pressure roller maintaining its pressure until the can has passed it and the whole of the tape encircling the can has pressed on the can to complete the sealing thereof.

5. A machine for sealing cans or similar containers by applying adhesive tape to the junction of the lid and body of the can as claimed in claim 4, having means for adjusting the track relatively to the conveyor belt and means for varying the position of the knife for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

GEORGE KENNETH CHARLES. 

